§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what hospital accommodation has been installed at Rosyth, and how far would victims of an accident at the new dockyard works have to be carried before receiving treatment in hospital; and what provisions have been made for transport thereto?
§ Mr. McKENNANo hospital accommodation has yet been installed at Rosyth. Injured men requiring hospital treatment are conveyed about three and a half miles to Dunfermline Hospital. The contractors have arranged for the use of the St. Andrew's Association's ambulance waggon, which is kept in Dunfermline. This can be summoned by telephone, and arrive on the site in 25 or 30 minutes. Less serious cases can be transported by the contractor's motor car in 15 minutes.
§ Mr. YOUNGERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very great demand for hospital accommodation, and is it not necessary to do something more than that?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe matter is one for the contractor, and not for the Admiralty.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the whole matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have already explained that it is not a matter in which the Admiralty can act themselves. The workmen in question are employed by the contractor and not by the Admiralty.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYAre the Admiralty going to employ any men there?
§ Mr. McKENNANot at present.
§ Mr. W. THORNEYou have a clerk of works on the job. I should have thought it would have been his duty to prevent as many accidents as possible?
§ Mr. McKENNAWe have inspectors on the works to see that the work is carried out according to contract. But we are not the employers of the labour.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state how many men are now being employed at Rosyth; and whether any considerable addition to that number is contemplated in the near future?
Mr. KENNAFive hundred and seventy-three men are now employed at Rosyth. In March next this number will probably be increased to about 2,000.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYTwo thousand men are to have no hospital accommodation, and have to be taken four miles in case of accident?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is not justified in saying that.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYI think I am justified.